Armagh Herd Clear Of Brucellosis

NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - Senior Veterinary Officer for the Department of Agriculture's Vet Service, Owen Denny told TheCattleSite yesterday, that brucellosis had not been isolated in a calf's leg, which officials believed may have been a malicious attempt to affect a herd of cattle with brucellosis.
calendar icon 17 March 2011
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Earlier this month, a calf's leg had been found in silage used to feed a group of heifers. It was feared that this was another attempt to deliberately infect that herd of cows with brucellosis.

Mr Denny confirmed that brucellosis had not been isolated in the calf's leg. However, he cautioned that the leg of an animal is not normally the part of a carcase that brucellosis would be isolated in.

The herd of cows on that farm has been isolated and tested, and Mr Denny said that nothing of any concern had been found. However, caution will be taken and the herd will remain under restrictions and tested again in a few weeks time.

Despite no evidence of brucellosis being found, this case is been taken very seriously, Mr Denny said.

The lab that tested the calf's leg, is now trying to match the DNA from it to high risk herds in the area, in order to find where it came from.

Should a match be made, officials will know where the calf came from and will be informing the police.

Mr Denny said that it will take two to four weeks for the labs to check samples.

"Whilst it is a relief that no brucellosis was isolated in this carcase, the risk is not fully eliminated, as we do not have the rest of the calf," said Mr Denny.

"I would encourage all farmers to remain vigilent, and keep an eye open for any unusual activity around livestock."

Further Reading

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TheCattleSite News Desk

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